Jessica Blough

3 weeks ago | missionlocal.org | Jessica Blough

The latest round of proposed federal cuts to public media could eliminate $30 million annually in funding already budgeted for San Francisco public media like KQED and KALW. The San Francisco-based Independent Television Service would lose 86 percent of its funding for the next two years if Congress approves the proposed rescissions. Others would lose from 7 to 10 percent of their funding.

1 month ago | missionlocal.org | Jessica Blough

When Marcelo Fonseca began driving a cab in 1989, he memorized a map of San Francisco and could recall the location of any street without assistance. Seeking a stable income with plenty of socialization, he applied for a medallion from the city, then slowly climbed a 15-year waitlist. But within a year of receiving his medallion in 2009 — and the stability it brought — the cab industry would dramatically change. “I was probably the very best cab driver you could get out there. I understood my job.

1 month ago | missionlocal.org | Jessica Blough

On a clear May day, Nikolas Larson surveyed the intersection of Shotwell Street and 25th Street, a bit disappointed. It was too windy to chalk. Since 2010, when he moved to the Mission, this corner of the neighborhood has been his “outdoor studio:” A place where he comes to create about once a week. “This is just the nearest good sidewalk from where I live,” he said.

Feb 28, 2025 | altaonline.com | Jessica Blough |Maisie Hurwitz

Books10 New Books for March10 New Books for MarchThis month, we’ve got our eyes on The Pacific Circuit, Coastal: 130 Recipes from a California Road Trip, The Dream Hotel, and seven other titles from authors of and on the West. 1THE ANTIDOTE, BY KAREN RUSSELLKnopfA Prairie Witch, the witch’s apprentice, a farmer, and a scarecrow. These are not the characters of an L.

Jan 20, 2025 | altaonline.com | Jessica Blough

Sara Sligar begins her second novel, Vantage Point, in the depths of the ocean, as a character is in the middle of drowning. It’s a warning that we have entered a sinister territory. Then the scene shifts to land, where we meet siblings Teddy and Clara Wieland. Teddy, the older, appears to be the voice of responsibility; he became his sister’s guardian after their parents died. Clara has been in and out of eating disorder rehabs and has a history of drug use and hallucinations.